Roenick gives his take on the State of the Sharks

He might be the last guy Sharks fans want to hear from on the state of Team Teal, but Jeremy Roenick certainly wasn’t shy about relaying some of his thoughts on what went wrong in the South Bay in April.

Roenick was doing a conference call Tuesday with reporters in advance of this week’s celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Roenick then (Charles Barkley was also on the call, and just about every question was directed towards him). But the moderator contacted me afterward and asked if I’d like to talk to Roenick sometime Wednesday.

How could I resist.

So what follows is the brief conversation we had.

Q — This figures to be a busy offseason for Doug Wilson the Sharks. From your perspective, what are some of the things that have to change in order for the Sharks to make it to a Cup final?

Roenick — Such a loaded question. You thought at the beginning of these playoffs, that this was their year. They were rolling along so impressively, and it looked like they were getting ready to bounce the Kings. Then something just happened. Whether it was the physical nature that increased, and it increased with LA, and did not increase with the Sharks.

They have a really good mix of youth, a really good mix of toughness that I think they haven’t had. I thought that one thing that hurt them really badly was not having Vlasic in the lineup. That was a massive hole to have to fill. This kid has really evolved. He’s one of the better defensemen in the National Hockey League that doesn’t get the credit that he should across the league.

You had your goaltender kind of go on bad slide at the wrong time. You needed your top guys to lift that level again. It all comes down to, when you win, your top guys get the credit, and when you lose, your top guys are going to get the blame.

I think a lot’s been said, how long are you going to keep the Thornton-Marleau combination together? Whether one of them needs to have a change of scenery and to try to get something for them while they’re still 33-34 years old. Both of them still have good years ahead of them. But I know that’s been a question that the media has wondered, whether they can continue to go with the same guys as the top guys.

Joe being the captain, to me he would be the more likely guy to stay and run that team and continue to be the captain. The guy who’s probably the most obvious that might need to change would be Marleau. Patrick is obviously a fan favorite, but for how long do the fans accept not making it to the big dance?

Doug, it’s a tough position that he’s in. These are great players. But for some reason, for some reason, the team just hasn’t been able to raise that level to get the job done. So, trust me, it’s such a hard thing. All of the stars have to align, all of the players have to be bought in, firing on all cylinders and playing their best hockey to get to the final, and I understand that. And it just hasn’t worked that way for the Sharks. But that does not mean that Doug Wilson has not done a great job. I personally think, Doug Wilson has done a tremendous job of putting a great team on the ice.

Doug’s coach. I personally love the coach in San Jose. Todd McLellan was one of my favorite coaches I ever played for. I think he’s, I don’t think it’s more him, than it is the guys that have to decide to raise the level.

Joe Thornton has to score more goals and Patrick Marleau has to score goals in key games, not in games one and games two. But he needs to score the big goals to get them into the next series. That’s always be the knock on them.

My knock is that I never won a Stanley Cup. My knock was never a guy who couldn’t play big in big games, because I did play big in big games. I just didn’t get to win the Cup at the big time. I got there, but I wasn’t able to do it. So I have to live with that. Joe and Patty are approaching that time where I think they have to protect their legacy. Joe Thornton, in my opinion, is the best playmaker on the planet, the best passer on the planet. Patrick’s one of most talented players that I’ve played with. But if you’re not going to bring it at the right time that you’re team needs it, there’s obviously going to be questions for it.

I don’t want to sit here and say that it’s Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau’s fault. Because its not. It’s not at all. You win as a team and you lose as a team. But sometimes when it goes this long, sometimes the tough decisions are going to have to be made. Sometimes you have to shake up certain parts of it.

Doug Wilson’s got some decisions to make. But if it were me, if it were me, like I said I think Joe Thornton is the captain, and he should stay in place, but they should see what they can get for Patrick Marleau, who has been there his whole career, and maybe he needs a change of scenery and you can get a lot for him. He’s an extremely talented player and you can get a lot on the market for a guy like him, and maybe change the chemistry of the team.

Q — Some of the talk right now is that the atmosphere around the team has been a little bit too comfortable. That that’s great during the regular season, but when it gets tough in the playoffs, maybe that comes back to haunt them a little bit.

Roenick — Listen, San Jose is an awesome place to live and an awesome place to play hockey. It’s a great place to raise your family. The fans are loyal and they are supportive all the time, so it’s easy to get complacent there. There’s no question, it’s easy. I think it’s up to players to make things difficult on each other, and sometimes, and especially nowadays, guys don’t like people yelling and screaming and all that stuff because no one wants to hurt anybody’s feelings.

I’ve seen Joe Thornton yell and scream, I’ve seen Joe Pavelski raise his voice, I’ve seen Dan Boyle raise his voice. I can see how it can get comfortable, nobody wants to ruffle anybody’s feathers. But sometimes, enough is enough. You can’t have a team like this and not hold each other accountable, day in and day out. But again, maybe that goes to (making) roster changes. I don’t know. I’m just throwing opinions out there.

I think Doug Wilson’s one of the best GM’s in the game and will continue to be. But he’s got a couple of tough decisions to be made. He’s got some of the best young players in the game in Couture and Pavelski and Vlasic, you’ve got to keep those guys to have a chance to win every single year, because they’re in the prime of their careers and you have to take advantage of that.

Q — There’s been talk about turning the team over to the younger players. Whether that means Joe and Patrick come back or not is a different story. But if Joe were to come back and not be the captain, how difficult would that be for a veteran player who has been in that role for a number of years?

Roenick — I think that would be tough. Joe is the most popular guy on that team and everybody looks to him as the leader of that team. He’s the biggest voice, he’s the best talent points-wise in what he’s been able to do in his career. He is looked upon very highly in that locker room, highly, highly regarded, and I think that’s important as a captain. l don’t think you change that up, but I think you need to put an assistant captain on Joe Pavelski, I think you need to put an assistant captain on Logan Couture and Vlasic, have them switch it around. Have those guys have more of a leadership role. No question about that.

There’s no way you’re Kurz. While I may disagree with some of his opinions as of late he does write competently, unlike yourself.
He he also discusses a multitude of topics regarding the Sharks, unlike yourself.
He also writes his articles to inform & encourage discussion & not to troll & antigonize, unlike yourself.

Here’s a double Patty for ya…

MLBSF

Ohhhhh. Okay my bad Clemenza. You only accused him of having a “thinly veiled agenda.”

Always remember Clemenza. Don’t be mad at me and Kevin Kurtz or JR or anyone else. Be mad at who deserves your anger: The Sharks.

Alex

Thanks for the link. I hope Dan signs with a contender.

Alex

The series is pretty much over. The Rangers are not winning 4 straight against this team.

Ronn Sven

Quote from former NFL Football coach Jimmy Johnson
“Do you want to be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance and be great?”

Alex

Just like saying negative things about the Sharks usually gets one labeled a troll or a sock puppet. It works both ways.

MLBSF

Perfect.
But listen to everyone around here. It’s what they want.

Not me. I see the Kings mixing things up…bringing in guys, bringing in a new coach and just like that they win two championships in three years.

They were anything but safe and good.

Alex

Your second line of Couture, Desjardins and Wingels looks brutal. This would definitely be the weakest link. And yes, it would be interesting to see if Doug Wilson goes after Iginla.

MLBSF

Doug Wilson has to be watching this series knowing there’s absolutely no way he can roll basically the same team out there next year and think they have any chance of beating LA in a 7 game series.

If the idea is to be good during the regular season and just sell a lot of seats and Sharks merchandise, then that’s what they’re going to do.

But they’re trophy case will remain filled with nothing but dust.

Clemenza

Yep, I did…(see? I admit the things I say without back pedaling) so I criticized him… It Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the guy’s coverage of the team.
I’m concerned for you MLBSF, you seem much needier and starved for drama more than the usual “Look at me!” stuff…
Your trolling rhetoric has definitely got to the levels where you were previously booted out of here….
We’d all hate for that to happen, believe you me…

BeeOhZee

The Sharks have made some huge trades over the years, during the season and in the offseason. Good trades or not, you be the judge. But based on their history, I don’t think they can be accused of playing it safe, and rarely can they be accused of standing pat.

MLBSF

When you have put all your chips on the same table since the late 1990’s (Marleau) and keep doing it year after year with the same losing results, maybe that should be characterized as stupidity as opposed to playing it safe.

But LA was a lot like the Sharks before the stopped playing it safe. They made some big moves and it’s paid off with two Stanley Cups. They rolled the dice.

Let’s see if the Sharks will learn anything when they watch the parade of champions yet again this week in Los Angeles.

stevedrummer

Drop it already. No team can beat the Kings.
Unfortunately, the Sharks got them in round 1.

Some one commenting in the comment section? I’ll give that it’s probably a better rumor source than Eklund.

But, now, Eklund can use your post to create a verified rumor that the Sharks are interested in dealing for Tallon’s 1st pick. But, don’t let info get to Kurz…. 😉

GP_hockeyhappens

Or, mine, when taken way out of context … LOL.

FreeWorld

The players do seem a little too comfortable. They have a lot of talent but they play all season at a 9 when others may be playing at an 8 but then when the playoffs come they don’t take it up to a 10 like the winning teams do. Marleau really does just glide around like it’s Sunday in the park. We need fresh new players with real drive!

The “wait, what?” article is the correct reaction IMO. Not because of the news. That seemed inevitable and is no surprise, to me anyway. But, it looks like Kurz actually did some of his own work for a change in reporting something no one else has yet. Good for Kurz — if no one else has reported it.

ZEKE

I’d prefer a stronger intimidating presence than Mike Brown. Way too much leeway taken on our guys. Starting with Brown injuring Hertl’s knee and culminating with Stoll’s taking out Vlasic — and guys like lapierre on Boyle, plus Chimera and Cleary getting in head shots. Not ‘anti’ Mike Brown, but if his job is to keep other players from taking liberties against our top players, can’t really say it worked, either.

NB Finfan

Zeke thanks for keeping the Sharks hockey discussion going. There is a better than good chance that the season will conclude tomorrow so we need this.

The item that caught my eye was at the bottom of Kurz piece where he mentioned Hannan could be back and the Sharks plan on going with Tennyson and Doherty next year. I think this is first time I have seen those names penciled in at the blue line. If Hannan were to return that could signal the movement of Demers or Braun in a package for a forward.

As much as I like Brown, my concern is I don’t consider him skilled with the puck. He is good at closing in on players and creating turnovers, but I don’t think he is that skilled when we have the puck. I don’t think the Sharks can afford to carry a player that has one dimension to his game.

renoshark

“I think this is first time I have seen those names penciled in at the blue line.”

I’ve been throwing out those names for awhile now. Same with Mueller. But I sure don’t want to see Hannan back. Just too many miles on those legs.

ZEKE

for all the criticism of Hannan, he was worth every dime of his low end contract. Not sure why people have been so critical of our blue line. We were about 5th best in goals allowed and that’s with Niemi not looking anything like the Vezina finalist he was not all that long ago.

Hannan, as an 7th or 8th d-man, is fine. You don’t want him taking up minutes from the guys who need the development, but it a guy gets dinged up, having a guy who knows what to do makes a lot of sense.

renoshark

Mike Brown can actually skate and play hockey in addition to beatdowns. I don’t want to sacrifice that for some slow lumbering soul who only specializes in beatdowns.

ZEKE

One of the things that’ll be missed about Hannan if he doesn’t return — his pre-game skate with the team. He’d look at the people on the glass — find ones who weren’t paying attention and wrist a puck right towards them. That loud smack on the glass a few inches from where the un-attentive were standing got great reactions

NB Finfan

Kurz could be speculating like the rest of us. But I have little more hope when it comes from someone who has access to the team.

GP_hockeyhappens

I don’t know any enforcers that would have prevented any of those plays.

Which player on the Kings fit that bill? Matt Greene is the only guy I can think of that can come close to the concept. There are so few of those guys actually playing in the NHL right now.

renoshark

Because at the end of this season he was completely spent and a big liability. He’s a liabilty anyway against faster teams so I wouldn’t be sad to move on. We need more difference-makers and less liabilities back there. He’s relatively cheap though and who knows, maybe more effective with less minutes.

Stevo

Jumbo cedes power over his future to the fans??

That’s leadership.

GP_hockeyhappens

I disagree Hannan was a liability, but, I think his time is done here. I think a guy like Petricky(sp) would be better suited in that role if he could make the team as a 7th D. Don’t remember his contract status. But there might/would be others coming available that could fill that 7th spot that are younger or faster.

GP_hockeyhappens

Hey Stevo!

Jumbo is just making fun of the media and the over reaction and stupid speculation that he would be asked to waive…

GP_hockeyhappens

There really isn’t anyone out there anyway. Shawn Thorton? I don’t him leaving the Bs. Parros? His time is diminishing in the league too.

Davahad

It was sad to see the Sharks lose the way they did in 7 games to the Kings. However, it appears that is what was needed to change up the same ol same ol that most everyone here is content with year in and year out as long as we make the playoffs.

When I said we would be better off blowing this team up and not making the playoffs for a couple of years like Chicago I about got my head chopped off. Apparently Wilson has seen the light and won’t accept losing in the playoffs every year and is now willing to take a step backwards.

And when I said what about Lombard and Sutter they rebuilt and won the cup again off with the head and the Kings would never win another Cup with Lombardi and Sutter. Yep it sucks to be right sometimes as I would much prefer the Sharks be in the cup finals now but there is LA again going to get their second cup.

And Quick vs. Nemo. Yep Quick was better again.

And on and on.

Stevo

That’s pretty cool, actually.

But I like a certain low-tech solution… it’s called “ignore” 😉

Stevo

Demers, maybe… Braun, don’t think he’s going anywhere soon.

Alex

According to Mr. Eklund, now there’s a good chance Marleau will be moved at the draft.

Stevo

I think Hannan would be a good inner tube patch, but more important as a mentor to the young Dmen.

Keep him. He’s fast enough when he’s rested.

GP_hockeyhappens

At the very least, I think you’re stretching the truth on a few things.

LAK was a bad team for quite a while before DL was hired and talked them into a complete rebuild. Then it was many years before making the POs again and then a couple more before making it to the finals on the verge of being fired.

Hawks were another with maybe worse steps to climb. Longer and worse team until Wortz finally reached room temp so his son could begin the rebuild. Then, the GM had to violate CAP rules to win the cup.

DL hasn’t had to rebuild again since they won a cup a couple years ago. It’s nearly the same team.

You can think what you will, I don’t think there was anyone here that said, in any context, that the Kings couldn’t win another cup.

Stevo

Allo GP! How’s the golf game?

Are you sure re Jumbo’s (and others’) comment allez-vous? I must have read things wrong.

…that makes about 405,683 times now.

GP_hockeyhappens

It’s funny, I am battling through some hockey injuries which kill my golf game but I can still keep playing hockey…

My take on Jumbo and the quote…he doesn’t take the media seriously just like post game interviews. He already has a deal in place that keeps him in place. He understands the fans do want him here despite them not really having a say.

Something had to be said when asked. I do think his brother should have kept his mouth shut though. There was probably something better that could have been said and it not sound like an ultimatum.

Stevo

I have to admit… I’ve posted here that I didn’t think the Kings would win back to back (true), nor a 2nd Cup with Darryl Sutter behind the bench.

Although the Kings still have one more win to take the Cup, I find it a foregone conclusion (take that with another grain of salt; I predicted with certainty that the Sharks would take the Kings after the 3-0 start in R1) that the Kings will make good in 1 of the next 4.

Mr. Sutter has proven to me that he is a better coach than I had thought, based on past experience. To his credit, it seems that he’s absorbed that certain wisdom of “change” over the years.

That can’t be said about many blue-hair Head Coaches. They often are stuck in their “rut”.

Davahad

Yep the experts here asked who I would bring in as GM. When I said we had Lombardi I was then ridiculed that Lombardi and Sutter would never win another cup with the Kings as they got lucky as he was at the point of being fired. Just like the point you just made about him on verge of being fired.

Uhfortunately it appears all posts here are deleted in the comments section after a period of time so can’t remember exactly who it was but they know who they are and it was said.

It is good Wilson has finally figured out that making the playoffs every year is not good enough anymore as every year the Sharks find a new and more exciting way to lose. It is also good he has realized that Nemo is not the answer.

I still can’t figure out why he didn’t fire the coach. Under his leadership we have blown 2 3-0 playoff series leads and he is 1-8 in Conference Final games.

GP_hockeyhappens

Well, I don’t remember this. It wasn’t a popular stance though I imagine?

NB Finfan

If I had to chose it would Demers. But sometimes you have to give more if you want value in return. If you add two rookies and Burns into the D, they will have to make room somehow.

I was trying to find out what side Tennyson and Doherty shoot. Current blue line looks like Burns-R, Demers-R, Braun-R, Vlasic-L, Irwin-L, Stuart-L, then add Hannan-L (maybe).

Stevo

Re his brother’s comments. Spot on. That was why I gave it some gravity.

I’m still not sure that Jumbo was joking, but we’ll just have to see how Rosters Happen, eh?
I’m sorry to hear you aren’t on the links this Summer.

The odd thing for me is that when they lost Gm7 to the Kings, I was more certain than ever that major changes at the top must occur.

Now? I’m back to non-emotional evaluation mode, and this roster is still very good. Had the Sharks not coasted (or whatever one wishes to call it) at the end of the regular season, they would not have played the Kings in R1 and might possibly returned to the WCF, and maybe further…

In which case, the tenor and topics of all-things-Sharks, over the last month or so, would have been rather different re moving Jumbo or Marleau (or anybody of significance).

FWIW, I’d move Nemo, if the right deal comes along, before Marleau or Jumbo. Stalock has the goods – even if he’s a bit green.

renoshark

“and is now willing to take a step backwards.”

Name one person here that has ever said they were content with just making the playoffs. And taking a “step backwards” isn’t the same as an Edmonton-style implosion and suck for a decade type-rebuild. It’s obvious some changes need to be made but those changes and a franchise-sucking implosion isn’t one of them. You’re misjudging the owner a tad bit if you think that’s what he wants.

renoshark

He pretty much knows nothing about Tennyson or Doherty and has pretty much stated same. So, there’s that.

ZEKE

Blowing things up and not making the playoffs is no sure thing either. Look at EDM for a model of how to get high picks and still not get anywhere.

But even if you do miss the playoffs, you still need to hit on the picks. If you look at the elite players on the teams we’ll need to beat, many of them got picked at the very top of the draft.